Local Pairings

When looking for the perfect wine to complement a meal, or maybe the meal to complement a favorite wine, the answer may be as simple as looking at what's in your backyard.

There are many benefits to eating local and seasonal produce, especially with so many new and growing opportunities to buy local and organically grown produce. The Land Stewardship Project, a nonprofit organization aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture and to develop sustainable communities, reports that a growing number of farmers are choosing environmentally sound farming practices instead of higher returns. These practices reduce the negative impact that farming has on our environment and produce safe and wholesome food.

Did you know that several weeks can elapse between the time some of your produce is picked in a distant country and the time you purchase it at the store? Ecomii, a website that promotes buying locally and thinking globally, says that the average distance food travels between its origin and the market is 1,500 miles! More miles equals more fossil fuels used to transport it to your plate. Locally grown foods require little energy to bring to the market and eventually to your plate.

There are many heath benefits to eating local produce too. Produce actually starts losing nutrients the moment it is harvested. Pesticides are often used on fresh produce to extend the shelf life and prevent damage during transportation. The less the food has to travel, the more nutritious it is for you!

Finally, you experience a more intense flavor experience when the produce is fresh and seasonal. When you eat local and seasonally produce, you will get a much richer flavor closer to the produce’s natural standard. As a result, these true and intense flavors might even be easier to pair with wine.

But why not go a step further, and taste a close, regional wine with your local, seasonal dinner? Many of the same rules apply to the transportation of wine as the transportation of food, and many smaller, family-owned wineries are moving towards sustainable and organic farming.

Besides the global impact, knowing that your dinner and wine was cultivated from the same soil, in the same climate, brings a closer understanding and connection to the land and the people. So whether traveling or at home, make sure you taste the local flavors!

Written by Karen